Processes that Occur in Group Decision Making

1
Processes that Occur in Group Decision Making

• Problem Solving
• group as a whole
• single coordinated response rather than a group
  of individual responses
• an integrative perspective, cooperative
• Persuasion
• sides trying to convince each other
• increased conflict
• coalitions of individuals or sub-groups
• distributive approach

2
Benefits of Group Decision Making

• 1) Synergy
• sum of whole is more than sum of the parts
• 2) Innovation greater number of approaches
• 3) Acceptance increases with participation
• 4) Understanding of decision increases

3
Problems with Group Decision Making

• 1) Social Pressure
• Accept majority view
• minority opinions lack influence
• 2) Social Valence
• acceptance of the solution is related to the
  number of statements made for solution
  independent of quality
• 3) Individual Domination
• (in leaderless groups) and mere appointment of a
  leader causes person to dominate discussion
• 4) Secondary Goal
• winning the argument versus finding the best
  solution

4
Group Polarization

• The average group members post discussion
  attitude can become more extreme than the average
  prediscussion attitude when
• 1) individuals discover in group discussion that
  their feelings are shared by others
• 2) persuasive arguments are offered
• 3) diffusion of responsibility among group
  members leads individuals to support a more
  extreme position

5
Groupthink

• Occurs when concurrence seeking becomes so
  dominant in a cohesive group that it tends to
  override realistic appraisal of alternative
  courses of action
• Symptoms
• 1) invulnerability 2) rationalization
• 3) morality 4) stereotyping
• 5) peer pressure 6) self-censorship
• 7) unanimity 8) mindguards